Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
My biggest fear was that he never would.
My phone rang, and I was distracted as I answered. “Hello.”
“Ms. Myers, it’s Garden Villa, calling about your father.”
“Is he all right?” I asked, panicked.
“He’s had a fall and has been taken to the hospital.”
“I’m on my way.”
I paced the waiting room, anxious and upset. All I knew was my dad was here, the doctors were checking him out, and that he’d fallen in his room and been found, unconscious, by a staff member. I had been told to be patient—twice.
I looked down at my phone, tracing the screen. I wanted to call Alex and tell him what was happening. To hear his voice soothe me and tell me everything would be okay. To let me know he would drop everything right now and come be with me.
But it was business hours, he was in an important meeting, and I couldn’t do it. Be that girl who panicked and called her boyfriend—fiancé—to come hold her hand. Until I knew what was happening, I could handle this.
My name was called, and I hurried over to where a doctor stood. He greeted me with a serious expression. “Your father has dislocated his shoulder, broken his arm, and has a concussion. We’re going to stitch up his head, fix the shoulder, set the arm, and we need to keep him in for observation.” He paused. “It could have been a lot worse. If he had fallen differently, he might have broken a hip, and I’m not sure he’d survive surgery.”
I swallowed, my throat thick and the tears threatening. “How long will he be in?”
“We’ll reassess in the morning. We need to make sure there’s no brain swelling—it was a bad tumble. He’ll need watching over when he returns to the home. I’m going to suggest he be moved to a smaller ward with more care.”
“Can I see him?”
“He’s in pain and very confused. I suggest you wait until after we set his arm, so that we’re able to give him something to help with his pain and transfer him upstairs to the ward. We have to be careful due to the concussion.”
“Of course.”
“Someone will come get you, but it might be a while. We’re pretty slammed here. As soon as we know the ward, you can go up and wait there. It will be more comfortable.”
“Okay.”
He left and I sat down, my legs not able to hold me up. The next level of care in the home was more expensive. Not that it mattered since if that was what he needed, then it had to happen. I would have to contact the home and discuss it with them.
Knowing I was going to be here a while, I slid my phone from my pocket, deciding I needed to call Bane. I paused as a wave of dizziness hit me, and I had to let my head fall on my chest for a moment. I hadn’t eaten today. I would rest a minute, call Bane, then get something to eat. A sandwich from the cafeteria would help.
“Magnolia?”
I looked up into the kind eyes of my doctor. Hannah Wilson had been my caregiver for almost ten years. Close to retirement, she had a head full of white hair and twinkling dark eyes.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “Your father?”
I explained to her about Dad, and she nodded as she listened. “Sadly, falls tend to adversely affect those already dealing with memory issues.”
“I know.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Are you all right? You’re very pale, Magnolia. Is your anemia acting up?”
“Oh, I don’t think so. I mean, I had the blood work done a few months ago that you ordered, and you said my levels were good. I’m taking my supplements,” I assured her.
She frowned, not looking pleased, picking up my wrist and taking my pulse. “While you’re here and waiting, and I’m in between patients, how about we draw some blood and check? We don’t want another deficiency happening.”
“I shouldn’t go far.”
“And you won’t,” she said firmly. “I’ll tell them at the desk, and you’ll be gone half an hour, tops. I’ll do a quick finger jab to check and send away a sample for verification.”
“Okay,” I agreed, knowing she wouldn’t take no.
I followed her down the hall, and she had me sit. “Have you eaten today?”
“No. I got the call and came right here.”
She swabbed my finger and jabbed it, taking the sample and testing it. “A little low,” she murmured. “But not as bad as I’ve seen with you. Okay, we’ll do a full work-up. Some results will be back right away and the rest in a couple of days. You can come see me, and we’ll go over the results.” She sat down with a form. “And eat some meat, please.”
“Okay,” I said with a smile. Bane would love steak for dinner.